From Don Covington #2

10239275-large, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr. Cirque du Soleil isn't the only French Canadian circus arriving in Oregon next week. The horse-themed circus "Cavalia" opens a two-week run Wednesday in the Pearl District, and anyone who has driven over the Fremont Bridge in the past few weeks has probably spied the massive white tent that houses the show. The four-pointed big top has 71,000 square feet of canvas and houses a stage that's the size of an Olympic swimming pool, as well as seating for 2,000 people. Add to that the eight smaller tents that are used to support the show and the stables that are home to its 50 male horses, and you've got the largest touring show in the world. It takes 100 trucks to move "Cavalia" from city to city -- that's 20 trucks more than U2 needed on its most-recent world tour. More Coverage of Cirque du Soleil's Portland showsAnd the comparisons to the world's biggest rock band don't stop there, in the eyes of the show's creator, Normand Latourelle. Half of the horses in "Cavalia" are stallions that are fond of strutting their stuff. "They are very proud animals, and they like to show it," Latourelle says. "They're like Bono." We caught up with Latourelle, who was a co-founder of Cirque du Soleil before leaving the company in 1990, on the day the "Cavalia" tent went up earlier this month to talk about the challenges of mounting a spectacle as big as "Cavalia" and the enduring allure of horses. Coming up: "Cavalia" When: Opens 8 p.m. Wednesday; continues various times through Nov. 27 Where: White big top in the Pearl District, Northwest 12th Avenue and Quimby Street Tickets: $64.50-$99.50 (special VIP packages for $149.50-$189.50), with discounts for children and seniors; 866-999-8111 or cavalia.netWhat is it about man's connection with horses that's so compelling? I have a dog, and we have a connection. The dog recognizes me, and I have fun with him and we start to be friends. We're not used to having that sort of relationship with horses, except if you own horses and you understand that they can recognize you. That's where the bond starts. In the wild, horses are afraid of man until they realize that he is not a predator and wants to become a friend. If you feed them and take care of them, then the horse will realize who you are, and it's like a dog, he will become your best friend. What does it take to train horses to be in a show like this? It's a long training process. To get the horse used to performing, they have to get acclimated to the stage, the lights and the audience. At some point, they'll be ready to perform. For some horses, it only takes a few months. For others, it's a few years. It all depends on their character and how ready they are to adapt. We go at their speed, and we give them all the time they need. There is no formula. What's the background of the riders in the show? Most of them come from an equestrian background. Some of the acrobats have been performing with more traditional circuses, but the performers who are dealing with the horses have never been in a circus.